The Best From Big Red S

Better Brains

2 / 13

Specialized moved the Brain's adjuster from the bottom of the fork to the top, so it may now be adjusted by the rider on the fly. Engineers also further refined the internals of the Fox-built Brain rear shock. This latest version is smooth and seamless, allowing riders to run a firmer Brain setting, yet still benefiting from full performance in the rough stuff. In the past, I’d typically run the Epic's Brain on full soft, because the shock’s platform always felt a step behind the terrain. But the new design felt firmer on smooth trails and softer in bumpy terrain. It felt quite amazing, actually. Plus, the new Brain unit can be retrofitted onto 2011 bikes.